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Gov’t denies engaging ousted league body in organising Kau To‘a’s welcoming event following public outrage

By
Kalino Latu
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The Ministry of Sports said a reconciliation process had been initiated to bring together rugby league players and officials after the bitter feud that marred Tonga’s participation in the 2019 Oceania Cup.

CEO Fotu Fisi’iahi said the process would not be part of this Friday’s celebrations, a day which has been officially declared as a public holiday in Tonga to celebrate the historic Test triumph over the Kangaroos. .

He said it was important for all parties to reconcile because of the future of the rugby league and they are expected to return to the negotiation table after the celebrations.

Tonga was the first two-tier nation to defeat Australia.

Thirty six members of the successful team together with their wives and officials began arriving in Tonga this week.

The government has offered to pay for their travel and accommodation expenses.

Photos circulated on social media showed fans have painted some of the players’ images on vehicles.

It has been reported that tomorrow Thursday 14 the team are expected to attend a reception at the royal villa in Tufumahina.

Friday’s celebrations are expected to include a parade from Tu’imatamoana waterfront to Teufaiva National Stadium.

Fisi’iahi denied claims the government met and arranged with the Tonga National Rugby League interim board to organise the welcoming event.

Dr Fisi’iahi responded after an outrage erupted online last week with rugby league fans supporting threats from the players that they would not come to Tonga this Friday if it was true the World League’s suspended Tonga interim board took part in organising the event.

Tonga’s National Rugby League interim board has been suspended by the international governing body after Tonga’s top players such as Jason Taumalolo and Andrew Fifita initially threatened to boycott the Oceania Cup unless action was taken against the TNRL.

The feud escalated after the TNRL sacked popular coach Kristian Woolf over disagreements around control and finances.

The newly established league body Tonga Ma’a Tonga is now the legal body authorised by the government and World Rugby League to take care of the sport in Tonga.

Notorious Tongatapu car salesman appears in court again after failing to deliver eight vehicles

By
Kalino Latu
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A car dealer who conned and abused customers has appeared in court again after he reportedly failed to deliver eight vehicles purchased by a customer.

The judge told Filimone To’aho, 38, of Tokomololo and co-accused Lesieli Langi, 33, of Matangiake they needed to be represented by a lawyer.

They have been jointly charged with criminal conspiracy with intent to defraud, Kakalu ‘O Tonga newspaper has reported in Tongan.

The paper claimed ‘Elisiva Fakatoumafi paid money to To’aho on 3 November 2017 for the vehicles but after one and a half year from the purchase she still did not receive them.

The company has been closed down, the paper said.

It is unknown whether To’aho has refunded part of Fakatoumafi’s money or not. The paper claimed he and his co-accused had been accused of defrauding $17,767.81.

As Kaniva news reported in 2016, the Holonga Vavaʻu Development Committee did not receive the TP$23,000 refund from Toʻaho and his Super Cheap car dealership despite a court order.

The money was paid after Super Cheap promised it would provide a passenger bus bought by the Committee.

The dealership failed to deliver the promised vehicle.

In a court document seen by Kaniva News at the time Lord Chief Justice Owen Paulsen approved the application by the plaintiff to force a refund.

The judge ordered that Toʻaho, trading as Super Cheap Tonga, pay $23,000 together with interest thereon at the rate of 10% per  annum from April 30,  2016 until the money was paid.

At the time, Toʻaho was also expected to re-appear in court on 14 November 2016  as part of another fraud case in which he was accused of defrauding clients of more than TP$70,000 .

Autorec Enterprise Ltd, a Japanese vehicle provider which imports vehicles direct from Japan, took Tōʻaho and his car dealership to court.

To’aho could not be reached for comment.

Lisa Adams breaks world record to win gold on debut

By
Kaniva Staff
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By Radio New Zealand

Lisa Adams, the sister of Olympic champion Dame Valerie Adams, has won gold in the women’s shot put F37 at the World Para Athletics Championships in Dubai on her international debut.

Adams started with a world record breaking first round throw of 14.70m before producing another World record-breaking throw of 14.80m in the final round.

Adams, who is coached by double Olympic champion sister Valerie, said she was pretty overwhelmed with the result.

“It’s been a hard and fast road. I’ve been training for a year and a half and this is my international debut. There’s a bit of confidence out there after today, I had consistency and there are goals that we’ve made for later on, and this is a stepping-stone for that. I didn’t come in with breaking the world record as a goal, so that’s kind of a bonus.”

Caitlin Dore finished 7th in the shot put F37, with a best throw of 9.50m in the final round, a new PB and Otago record for the Dunedin-based thrower.

Dore said she put everything out there. “I had six consistent, good throws, so pretty stoked with the series. Discus is Tuesday night and I am rearing to go, I’ve really got a feel for it now and am excited.”

Adams and Dore will compete in the discus F38 on Tuesday.

On the track Danielle Aitchison won silver in the 200 metre T36 – crossing in 29.86 seconds.

Anna Grimaldi also won silver in the long jump T47 – with a jump of 5.5 metres.

Also competing in the morning session on day 3 of the Championships were Anna Steven, who placed 7th in the final of the 200m T64 with a time of 30.33, and Ben Tuimaseve, who had a best throw of 12.08m in the shot put F37 which placed him 12th overall.

“It was an honour to wear the black singlet and it means something to me,” said Tuimaseve. “It just didn’t happen today, but what can you do but get up and move on.”

The World Para Athletics Championships run until Friday 15 November. A New Zealand team of 15 athletes is competing at the event.

Education Ministry names Dr Tangikina Moimoi Steen as new CEO

By
Kalino Latu
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The Public Service Commission has appointed Dr Tangikina Moimoi Steen as the Ministry of Education’s chief executive to replace Claude Tupou.

Tupou’s contract was terminated by PSC in January.

Dr. Raelyn ‘Esau took over as Acting CEO before she tendered her resignation in June.

“The Public Service Commission welcomes Dr Tangikina Moimoi Steen’s appointment as the CEO for the Ministry of Education and Training and wishes her success in her term in Office,” a statement said.

Dr Steen began her career as a Science and Mathematics teacher at Queen Salote College in 1976, 1987 and part of 2014.

From 1988 to 1999, she was employed by the South Australian Institute of Technology (now the University of South Australia) as a Senior Tutor/Lecturer in Mathematics and Computing Studies.

In her Non-Government Organisation work in Australia, Steen was the Vice-President of the National Ethnic and Multicultural Broadcasters’ Council (NEMBC), the peak advocacy body for the ethnic and multicultural community broadcasters.

Her PhD study explored the problem solving strategies that students use when they encounter difficulties in learning and using IT.

“These strategies not only depend on students’ level of IT competencies but also on a number of social and cultural factors which influence their learning, hence my research interests and publications are based on the overlapping space of interaction between computer education in higher education and Indigenous/Aboriginal cultures.”

She was a radio broadcaster and producer of the Tongan language programs on Fridays 4-5pm in the Adelaide’s full-time ethnic radio station 5EBI 103.1FM. 

“As Chair of the Tongan Research Association (TRA), I have convened a number of international conferences and authored the latest book published by TRA. I consider myself a social commentator on issues relating specifically to the Tongan diasporas in Australia. In particular, their participation in the social, political and economic processes of their adopted country, and the impacts these have on their lives and their socio-cultural practices.”

Popua accused dies after collapsing while in police custody

By
Kalino Latu
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Sēmisi Māvaetangi, 60, was taken from the Nuku’alofa Central Police station to hospital on October 29 but passed away soon after.

Local media reports said it appeared Māvaetangi was unwell before he collapsed.

They said the deceased was arrested following a complaint he and another accused allegedly assaulted a man in Fangaloto.

Māvaetangi and his co-accused were wardens supervising the Popua Community Park when they found a Fangaloto man drinking alcohol there.

They took the man to his home before the alleged assault happened after the man did not cooperate, it has been claimed.

The deceased and his co-accused were scheduled to appear in court yesterday.

Tongatapu grandfather pleaded guilty over granddaughter indecent advice

By
Kaniva Staff
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A 74-year-old grandfather has pleaded guilty after he had been charged with what has been described as giving advice to an underage child that was sexual in nature.

The granddaughter, 15,  told nobody because she was scared until she had the courage to talk to authorities in her school recently.

Local reports described what the court has said about the convict’s action in Tongan as “tō’onga fulikivanu”.  

The victim has moved and stayed with a relative.

The judge reportedly warned such action should receive jail terms, the Kakalu ‘O Tonga newspaper has reported.

The judge has ordered the convict and the victim to undergo health assessment process.

The judge also ordered a pre-sentence report for the convict.

The grandfather was expected to be sentenced on November 29

More lanes planned for Taufa‘āhau road in an attempt to tackle traffic congestion

By
Kalino Latu
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In an attempt to tackle its chaotic traffic, Tonga Transport is planning more lanes on Taufa’āhau road in Tongatapu.

A long three or four-lane stretch from Pea Sipa’ilā junction to Tofoa Sipa’ilā junction are expected to be added.

Sidewalks are also planned to be built along the road, the Minister of Infrastructure, ‘Akosita Lavulavu said.

The plans included negotiations with landowners to acquire parts of their lands needed to widen the road.

These are parts of a proposal expected to be submitted to cabinet soon, Hon Lavulavu told Kaniva news.

Roadworks were currently underway at this section of the road which included resealing and widening it up to 1.5 metres.  The minister has described the maintenance as temporary and aiming at reducing traffic build-up.

The suggestion came after a two-lane, one-way route along Vaha’akolo Road, from the Tofoa Sipa’ilā intersection to the roundabout at the Longolongo Police Training School was put into place last year.

The ministry said at the time it was “to avoid congestion/jamming on the way to town on weekdays every week and also safety of road users around this area.”

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The planned cabinet proposal was part of the Tu’i’onetoa government’s priorities which focus on sealing all public roads with tar and filling roads to plantations, beaches, historical places and tax allotments with rocks.

Shipments which included a new backhoe loader, nine pallets of more than 400 cement sacks were expected to arrive in Niua Fo’ou this week as part of the government’s road construction project.

Ko e ongoongo’ ‘i he lea fakaTonga’:

Kuo ‘i ai ‘a e palani ke malava ‘o  leini tolu pe fa ‘a e Hala Taufa’āhau mei he sipa’ilā Pea ki he sipa’ilā ‘o Tofoa’. ‘E tānaki ki heni mo e saitiuoka. ‘Oku kau he palani ko ‘eni ‘a e alea mo e kakai ‘o kinautolu e ngaahi ‘api tu’u ve’ehala he hala’ ni ke ‘omai honau kelekeleke’ ki he fakalahi ‘e fai’. Ko e konga kotoa ‘eni ‘o ha pepa fokotu’u kapineti ‘oku ‘amanaki ke fakahū atu ‘e he Minisitā Ki he Ngaahi Ngāue Lalahi’, ‘Akosita Lavulavu, ke alea’i. Taimi tatau ‘oku lolotonga lele ‘a e monomono mo e fakafālahi mita ‘e 1.5 ‘o e vaa’i hala ni he taimi ni ke fakafaingamālie’i ‘a e fefononga’aki’. Ko e ngāue ko ‘eni ‘oku kau ai ‘a hono monomo mo tanu mo valitā.

Good Samaritan heartbroken while reaching out to ‘terminally ill’ family

By
Kalino Latu
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LOVE IS THE KEY TO EVERYTHING WE DO Nofo au fifili kihe ngaahi ngaue fakaofo 'ae 'Otua vaka mai he vitio ne tukuange atu 'anepo fekau'aki moe ki'i 'a'ahi namau fakahoko kihe taha ki'i famili koe taha ia he polokalama 'oku mau fakahoko he ta'u kihe ta'u kihe ngaahi famili tukuhausia mo masiva.Koe fakatalanoa moe fa'e 'a Meleane na'a ne feinga ke fakama'uma'u to hono lo'imata ke 'oua temau 'ilo'i kae 'ikai lava ke mapukepuke mau 'asi atu 'ikai ha maheni 'e taha ka koe Laumalie ia 'oku tofa pe ia 'ae hala kemau afea ai lotofale 'ae famili ni Pea koe ngaahi tokoni 'eni 'ohovale pe finemotu'a ia he tatangi 'ae telefoni koe ta mei Australia ke ma'u puha moa 'e 2 'ikai ha Pa'anga ka koe ki'i puha moa pe kenau ma'u me'atokoni mei ai.'Oku fakafiefia pea fakamafana koe feongo'i'aki 'ae 'ofa 'ae Tonga neongo 'ikai ha felalave'i 'e taha Kae fakafeta'i ne fai hotau fakafehokotakinga 'ehe ki'i tamasi'i 'amanaki fakamanatua hono 'aho fa'ele'i 'ihe 'aho 25 Tisema.Pea kou lahi 'ae fema'u 'ae fika telefoni he 'ikai toe toloi ki 'apongipongi 'ae lele ki Ha'alalo ka koe tuku pe 'ae Lotu 'e fai e palavi atu kiai kihe famili ke 'eke 'ae ngaahi me'a 'oku fema'u

Posted by Patimiosi Ngungutau on Saturday, November 9, 2019

A father has suffered a stroke, his wife’s left leg was amputated, and one of their daughters was paralysed.

Their eldest daughter Meleane, 13, has left school to look after them.

This is the family of Sēsili and Maile Pāhulu of Ha’alalo.

It is understood the family often received financial donations from neighbourhood in exchange for chores done by Meleane.

This was the only source of income for the family who had been for years relied pretty much on people’s donations.   

Patimiosi Ngūngūtau of the Pakipaki Mā charitable service said they met the family last week.

The service, which operated by the Felafoaki Facebook group allocated $2000 to buy groceries for six families including the Pāhulu family.

Ngūngūtau has uploaded video clips and photos of their meetings to Facebook.

He wrote that he had a broken heart when he saw the way how the family live.

He told Kaniva news he received several calls from overseas asking for the family’s telephone number and address, after he shared the video and photos on Facebook.

Tongan man dies after single car crash in Bay of Plenty

By
Kalino Latu
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(New Zealand) – A Tongan man died after a single-car crash near Tauranga on State Highway 36 on Monday.

Eliesa Jacob Osaiasi Tonga Faleola Lolohea​, 20, was killed while travelling home to Katikati after visiting his girlfriend in Rotorua.

The Katikati local sustained serious injuries following the crash on Pyes Pa Rd in Oropi shortly after 6am. 

It was later confirmed he had died. 

“He has been remembered as a gentle soul with a quiet strength,” the NZ Herald has reported.

Meanwhile, prayer services and preparation for the deceased’s funeral had been uploaded to Facebook video clips.

Group of acoustic guitar players wearing tauanga’a were seen in one of the clips performing in a house during what appeared to be a prayer vigil.

A commenter on Facebook claimed Lolohea’s body is expected to be returned to Tonga next week.

David Fifita arrested in Indonesia over alleged assaulting of security guard

By
Kaniva Staff
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(AAP) Brisbane NRL star David Fifita has been arrested in Bali after an alleged brawl at the same nightclub where Nelson Asofa-Solomona landed himself in trouble last month.

The Broncos on Saturday confirmed Fifita was in jail. The club has immediately flown an official to meet their key forward.

“The Brisbane Broncos have today been made aware that David Fifita has been detained by authorities in Bali after an alleged incident involving a security guard,” a Broncos statement read.

“The club is working with representatives in Bali to provide David all the support he needs, and a Broncos official is travelling to Indonesia today.”Advertisement

The Seven Network reported Fifita, holidaying with Broncos teammate Payne Haas, allegedly assaulted a security guard early at La Favela nightclub. It is the same nightspot where Melbourne’s Asofa-Solomona was involved in a wild brawl, which resulted in a three-game ban and a suspended $15,000 fine.

A police report obtained by Seven alleged the security guard was hit in the face by a foreigner who was riding a motorbike taxi.

“The perpetrator jumped from the motorbike and tried to approach the victim, but was prevented by ojek driver,” the police report reads.

“The victim felt pain in his face and made a report at Kuta police station. Based on report, police went to the crime scene, asking witnesses and the victim. A bule (foreigner) that was allegedly the perpetrator was arrested.

“The perpetrator was taken to Kuta police station for further investigation. The alleged perpetrator could not be interrogated yet as he is still under the influence of alcohol.”

It is understood Fifita can be detained for 24 hours before being named as a suspect or freed by police.

“So the alleged perpetrator was nabbed straight away and taken to the police station,” Kuta police chief Teuku Ricki Fadlianshah told the Seven Network.

“Witnesses said that he hit La Favela’s security. An ojek driver tried to separate them and he tried to hit the security again. It is still being investigated. Based on witnesses, the perpetrator spontaneously hit the security without any reason. But we are still facing difficulties to interrogate him.”

The incident comes a fortnight after Fifita captained a Junior Kangaroos team to a win over France in Wollongong.

The 19-year-old is also set to enter the final year of his current contract, and is widely considered arguably the hottest free agent available for the 2021 season. He has been linked with a number of rival clubs, including South Sydney.

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